In Japan imperceptibly drowned island

The Japanese island of Asaba of Hamakita kojima, located to the West of the Kuril Islands, disappeared under the water. About it writes The Guardian.

The disappearance of the uninhabited piece of land gone unnoticed for the residents living in the nearest large island of Hokkaido. Asaba, towered above the water level of only 1.4 meters.

The island got its name only in 2014. Then the Japanese authorities are puzzled by the names to 158 Islands, desiring thus to extend the exclusive economic zone of the country. The loss of Asaba will reduce it to 500 meters.

Under international law, an island is considered land, surrounded on all sides by water and does not disappear at high tide.

Japan refuses to sign a peace Treaty with Russia over a territorial dispute, demanding to return the Islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai. Moscow believes that the Southern Kuril Islands became part of the Soviet Union at the end of the Second world war and sovereignty over them is unquestionable. In addition to Russia, Japan makes territorial claims against China and South Korea.